Applied Research Institute ‐ Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem Report on the Israeli Colonization Activities in the West Bank & the Gaza trip Volume 152, March 2011 Issue http://www.arij.org Bethlehem • Israeli settlers mowed 25 Olive trees in the area close to Al Furdeis Mountain east of Bethlehem city planted in a land by Ahmad Muhammad Al Wahsh and set their tents in the place. Palpress (March 1, 2011). • The Israeli planning department at the Municipality of Jerusalem city ratified a master plan to expand Homat Shamuel (Har Homa) settlement north of Bethlehem city. The plan area is 250 dunums of lands and includes the construction of 50 housing units, Synagogues and 9000 square meters area designated for commercial purposes. The plan also includes the building of two schools (Secondary and preparatory), a water pool, a public center and 5 kindergartens. Al Quds (March 2, 2011). • Israeli vehicles are dumping chemical substances into the lands of Wadi Shaheen in Artas village west of Bethlehem city. The land where the chemicals are being dumped, an old Monastery called ʺAl Banat Monasteryʺ is located in addition to 92 dunums of lands planted with various fruit trees owned by Artas residents. Al Quds (March 13, 2011). • Israeli Occupation army raided Ush Ghurab site east of Beit Sahour city and started bombing suspicious objects in the area as claimed. Wafa (March 15, 2011). • Israeli settlers set up two new mobile caravans on lands of At Touf area in Al Jabʹa village southwest of Bethlehem city preparing to take over it. The targeted lands are estimated at 250 dunums and are owned by 1 Applied Research Institute ‐ Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org Muhammad Attiya At Tous and Ahmad ʹAttiya At Tous and other residents of Surif village. Wafa (March 14, 2011). • The Israeli Civil Administration handed Awwad Family in Arab Ar Rashayda village southeast of Bethlehem city military orders to demolish tents and animal pins in Ras Imteira area under the pretext of being illegally living in the area which falls under the full Israeli control. The demolition, if takes place, will affect 50 family members living in 5 residential tents and barracks and own 4 livestock barracks and a solar energy unit. Al Quds (March 19, 2011). • For the third week on row, Israeli vehicles continue dumping solid waste into the lands of Artas village, in Wad Shaheen area. Al Quds (March 24, 2011). • Israeli Occupation authorities destroyed ancient water wells and natural reservoirs used by Bedouins southeast of Bethlehem. A 3,000‐cubic‐meter well owned by Ali Madghan Rashayida and a 225‐cubic meter reservoir belonging to Majid Rashayida were demolished. Al Ayyam (March 24, 2011). • Israeli Settlers uprooted 25 Olive trees, one Fig tree, two almond trees and four nuts trees in Al Harayeq area in Husan village west of Bethlehem city. Al Quds (March 29, 2011). • Israeli settlers and under the protection of Israeli occupation forces destroyed 13 dunums of agricultural lands in Hareqat Qiqan area in Al Khader village owned by Khaled Ibrahim Sbeih, Taleb Khalil Sbeih and Inherits of Naji Shihada Ghneim. The razed lands are located inside the settlement of Efrat. Wafa (March 30, 2011). Hebron • Israeli settlers of Ramat Yeshai settlement attacked a number of Palestinian houses in Tel Ar Rumeida in Hebron city and threw stones at them. The settlers also tried to uproot trees planted near the house of Hani Abu Haykal and attacked the house of Yaser Saʹid. Israeli settlers of Hagai settlement also attacked Palestinian residentsʹ vehicles while driving on the main road and caused damages to a number of cars in the city. Palpress (March 1, 2011). 2 Applied Research Institute ‐ Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org • Israeli occupation authorities raided the house of Hafez and Maher Kayed Al Komi in Al Hadab village south of Hebron city and caused damages to the properties. Maannews (March 1, 2011). • The Israeli Occupation forces handed residents of Ar Ramadain community southwest of Hebron city military orders to demolish 13 houses, Omar Ebn Al Khattab mosque and Wad Al Sultan School under the pretext of lacking building permits. Houses are owned by Muhammad Salamah Gaghadbah, Muhammad Hamed Raghaghmah, Muhammad Saʹed Zagharnah, Tawfeeq Shenior, Mahmoud Nawwaf Raghaghmah, Yousif Jaser Zagharnah, Muhammad Jaser Zagharnah, ʹAkef Muhammad Jaghadbah, Khaled Nayef Raghaghmah, Hamad Bahar Shenior and Suleiman Salamah Gaghadbah. Al Quds (March 1, 2011). • Israeli Occupation bulldozers demolished a water cistern in Al Baqʹa area east of Hebron city owned by resident Hamed Yousif Hamed Jaber who used the water source to irrigate a small grove of fruit trees, and as drinking water for his family. Maannews (March 2, 2011). • Two additional water wells belonging to Majed Al ʹIseli in Wadi al‐Ghrous near the Israeli settlement of Kiyrat Arbaʹ were destroyed. The two wells provided drinking water to a family of ten. Maannews (March 2, 2011). • Israeli settlers of Avigal outposts located southeast of Yatta uprooted 30 olive trees in Maʹeen Valley owned by Izzat Jibril An Najjar. Also Israeli Settlers from Kiryat Arbaʹs settlement tried to construct a road on the expense of Palestinian lands in Wadi Al Hussein area owned by Daʹna, Jaber and As Saʹafeen families. Al Quds (March 5, 2011). • Israeli occupation forces raided the town of Beit Ummar and gave residents four home demolition orders. Resident Ayman Salih Sabarna was informed that his one‐story house located on the main road to Hebron was slated for demolition, while Muhammad Ali Allami and Ziad Abu Ayyash were told that their homes were also set to be torn down. A local garage owner was told that he had 10 days to empty the yard next to his workshop of cars or the building would be taken down. Maannews (March 8, 2011). • Four tent homes, four caves and four sheds will be demolished by Israeli occupation forces in the coming weeks, orders from Israelʹs Civil Administration handed out to residents of the southern West Bank 3 Applied Research Institute ‐ Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org neighborhood of Zeef warned. The herder community of Amniyr, located between the Susiya settlement and its outpost, was buried by Israeli forces in February, who declared it illegally built. Residents took shelter in caves after Red Cross assistance was blocked. If the demolitions go ahead, the entire extended Abu Taha family, which inhabits the area, will be displaced. It is worth mentioning that Abu Taha family makes its living off the land near the caves north of Yatta, uses the sheds to house the animals and shelters in the tents. Demolishing the structures, will deprive them of their living. Those named in the demolition orders were identified as Muhammad Shehadah Abu Taha, Mahmoud Shehadah Abu Taha, Shehadah Muhammad Abu Taha, and Muhammad Mahmoud Abu Taha. Maannews (March 9, 2011). • Israeli occupation forces demolished a barn claiming it was built too close to the main Jerusalem‐Hebron road owned by Muhammad Younis Al ʹAlami. The 30‐year‐old barn was one of four buildings named in demolition orders handed out to residents. A spokesman for Israelʹs Civil Administration said the demolition was ʺroutine implementation of the law concerning illegal building (i.e. building without the necessary permits).ʺ Maannews (March 10, 2011). • Israeli occupation forces destroyed wells and tents of Palestinian families, who live in the Um Nir village near Susiya settlement. Ten families were left homeless by the action. Maannews (March 11, 2011). • Israeli Occupation forces hindered 20 Palestinian farmers from ʹAdi and Quqas families in ʹEin Al Bayda area in Beit Ummer town north of Hebron city from accessing their lands under the pretext of ʹState Land and Closed Military Areaʺ. Al Ayyam (March 13, 2011). • Tens of Israeli settlers attacked a nursery for flowers and roses owned by Shehdah Al ʹAlami in Beit Ummer town and caused destruction to the contents. The nursery is located on the main road between Jerusalem and Hebron. Israeli settlers also attacked some Palestinian cars in the town owned by Abdel Hamid Mahmoud Al ʹAlami and Muhammad Al ʹAlami, attacked the house of Jamal Abdel Muhsen Al ʹAlami and occupied the house of Saleh Abu ʹAyyash and transferred it into a military post. Al Ayyam (March 14, 2011). • Israeli settlers of Kfar Etzion settlement set fire into forest trees owned by ʹAdi family in Beit Ummer town north of Hebron city. On the other hand, 4 Applied Research Institute ‐ Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org Israeli occupation forces raided the town and stormed a number of houses in the town, of which the following were known: the house of Yousif Hasan Ikhlelil, Hasan Hussein Jaʹafar ʹAdi were known. Al Ayyam (March 16, 2011). • Israeli settlers had destroyed six olive trees in the village of At‐Tuwani in the south Hebron hills. The destroyed trees were approximately 15 years old and belonging to four members of the Rabaʹi family. Maannews (March 17, 2011). • Israeli Occupation forces set up a military checkpoint at Beit Ummer entrance north of Beit Ummer town. The IOF carried out a thorough inspection to Vehicles driving the road.